appsych prologue & ch1

psychology

the science of behavior and mental processes

empiricism

the view that knowledge originates in experience and that science should

structuralism

an early school of psychology that used introspection to explore the structural elements of the human mind

functionalism

a school of psychology that focused on how our mental and behavioral processes function-how they enable us to adapt

humanistic psychology

the perspective that emphasizes the growth potential of healthy people and the individual's potential for healthy growth.

nature-nurture issue

the controversy over the relative contributions of biology and experience.

natural selection

From among chance variations

levels of analysis

the three differing complementary views (biological

biopsychosocial approach

an integrated approach that incorporates biological

basic research

pure science that aims to increase the scientific knowledge base.

applied research

scientific study that aims to solve practical problems.

counseling psychology

a branch of psychology that assists people in living (often related to school

clinical psychology

a branch of psychology that studies

psychiatry

a branch of medicine dealing with psychological disorders; practiced by physicians who sometimes provide medical (drug) treatments as well as psychological therapy.

hindsight bias

the tendency to believe

critical thinking

thinking that does not blindly accept arguments and conclusions. Rather

theory

an explanation using an integrated set of principles that organizes observations and predicts behaviors or events.

hypothesis

a testable prediction

operational definition

a statement of the procedures (operations) used to define research variables. For example

replication

repeating the essence of a research study

case study

an observation technique in which one person (or group) is studied in depth in the hope of revealing universal principles.

survey

a technique for ascertaining the self-reported attitudes or behaviors of a particular group

population

all the cases in a group being studied

random sample

a sample that fairly represents a population because each member has an equal chance of inclusion.

naturalistic observation

observing and recording behavior in naturally occurring situations without trying to manipulate and control the situation.